Porto Old Jewish Quarters Half-Day Walking Tour

Recommended by 95% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Porto, Portugal

3 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Avoid wandering the streets without context and explore the sites and history of the Jewish community in Porto on this private half-day walking tour. With a knowledgeable guide, stroll through the old Jewish quarters as you learn about the city’s Jewish community, whose origins date to the 1100s. Entrance fees at your own expense.

Stroll the areas where Porto’s historical Sephardic Jewish peoples lived
Hear tales of Captain Barros Basto, the 1920s Portuguese ‘Dreyfus’
Learn about Porto’s Jewish community and their lives down the centuries
Personalized attention from a private guide, with entrance fees at own expense

What's Included

Professional guide

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Porto Cathedral
Terreiro da Sé, 4050-573 Porto, Portugal
The meeting point will be in front of the Horseman statue of Vimara Peres, located next to Porto´s Cathedral.

End point

Cordoaria
4050-598 Porto, Portugal

Itinerary

Catedral do Porto

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Miradouro da Vitoria

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level

The Synagogue is currently closed to visitors.
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Wear comfortable shoes (the tour involves a medium amount of walking).
Operates in all weather conditions please dress accordingly
The tour will take place only within the historical city center area. We will not visit Porto's Sinagogue area.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Reviews

4.7

based on 21 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Excellent

Stephen_G, Oct 2024

Luigi was terrific . So so knowledgeable on all aspects of Porto. Really brought to life how life was . Would highly recommend !

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Knowledgeable guide

Olga_B, Oct 2024

We had a wonderful tour with a very knowledgeable guide. We had enough time to talk about past, present and future. Thank you.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you for joing AtWill!

Porto’s Jewish History Comes to Life

Deborah_S, Jul 2024

The tour was informative and meaningful. Joao exposed us to areas and information we would not have found on our own. With so many of Portugal’s Jewish historical places covered up and built over, the tour is a must do.

Response from Host, Jul 2024

Thank you Deborah.

Guide good, content not as much

Susan_M, Jun 2024

The guide Luigi was personable and knowledgeable, and he did a very good job. However, there’re just not enough tangible or actual remaining historical structures to justify a tour like this.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Thank you Susan. The city's Jewish history is very rich and interesting. There really aren't many physical traces of this history, as explained during the tour, the six centuries of Catholic domination and the expulsion order of 1496 had profound effects. However, these are three hours of discovery and reflection that are very interesting and important for understanding the city's Jewish community today.

The tour was definitely not worth the dollars that we spent. Very disappointed

Suzanne_K, Sep 2023

The description of this tour was misleading. We thought we would see the synagogue in Porto In fact the amount of actual Jewish heritage in this tour was really basic and almost nothing to see.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Suzanne. Your review is very unfair. The synagogue is closed for visit because of security reasons for a long time, and it is stated on the listing very clearly. About the tour, the centuries of cristian domination have erased a lot of the physical remainings, leaving mostly documents and narratives. This is a tour that demands more from the imagination of our visitors, but most of them find it very interesting and engaging. We are sorry you feel this way, and will continue to work to improve our clients experience.

Joao was amazing! Take this tour!

Robin_B, May 2023

Joao was so knowledgeable and amazing, so much Jewish and Portuguese history! His English is excellent and he was very patient with questions and walking issues on the hills! Saw the city of Porto up close and completely.

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you Robin. We are happy to know you had a great time with João!

Highly recommend!

Ziva_W, May 2022

Our guide was a scholar in, and extremely knowledgeable about the Jewish history in Porto. We saw the Portuguese people and Jewish historical experiences in such a different light after our tour. We enjoyed the city even more thereafter! We highly recommend this tour!!!

Response from Host, May 2022

Thank you Ziva for this kind review. We are very happy to know it was such a wonderful experience!

Excellent Porto Old Jewish Quarters private walking tour

Marilyn_W, May 2022

While Porto currently has a small Jewish community whose museum and synagogue are closed to the public, there is a lot of Jewish history in Porto. Our guide, Joao, was excellent. He was personable and very knowledgeable. He also picked out paths to where we were going (primarily up) that were the least steep and even took us up a set of outside escalators.

Response from Host, May 2022

Thank you Marilyn! I'm very happy to know you had a good time and learned about the rich Jewish history of Porto.

great!

Jusy_P, Jan 2020

Incredible guide--Joao. knowledgeable and personable. amazing knowledge of Jewish and portugese history So worth every penny

Excelllent Walking tour of Jewish Porto

bshelkrot, Nov 2019

We covered a lot of the old city walking with a pleasant and well-informed guide. The narrow ancient walkways and alleys can be seen only by walking. We started at the Cathedral and went down to the river. The steep trip up from the river was a bit challenging and we ended up in an Uber to see the new Jewish Museum and the synagogue. Make sure that you request that these two sites are included when you book your tour.

Hot hot hot

MISERABLEMUNCHER, Sep 2019

Interesting tour not too much evidence of jewish interest . Good guide but check as no toilets on route . As in August very very hot so take plenty of water Very enjoyalble

Response from Host, Oct 2019

Thank you! More stops will be provided :) Kind regards, Carlota Cabral

Interesting tour. Knowledgeable and friendly guide.

Les_Z, Jul 2019

Guide was very good. The synagogue visit at the end was the highlight of the visit. Too much walking uphill. Perhaps start at the synagogue, taxi mid level, then walk downhill.

This tour was filled with so much...

Geri.powder, Oct 2017

This tour was filled with so much history dating as far back as the Inquisition until today with a visit to the only synagogue in Porto. Benedita our guide, was quite knowledgable, making this tour a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Tour Guide very good very...

Adrian M, Aug 2017

Tour Guide very good very knowledgeable. Very friendly helpful. The only physical Jewish content was the visit to the synagogue outside of the city . There isnt much to see otherwise